Acids & Bases

They are everywhere..

In your food
In your house
EVEN IN YOU!!!!!
 What is an acid?
 An acid is a solution that has an
excess of H+ ions. It comes from the
Latin word acidus that means "sharp"
or "sour".
 The more H + ions, the more acidic
the solution.
 Properties of an Acid

 Tastes Sour
 Conduct Electricity
 Corrosive, which means
they break down certain
substances. Many acids can
corrode fabric, skin,and
paper
 Some acids react strongly
with metals
 Turns blue litmus paper red

Picture from BBC Revision Bites

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/acids_b
ases_1.shtml
Uses of Acids
 Acetic Acid = Vinegar
 Citric Acid = lemons,
limes, & oranges. It is in
many sour candies such
as lemonhead & sour
patch.
 Ascorbic acid = Vitamin
C which your body needs
to function.
 Sulfuric acid is used in
the production of
fertilizers, steel, paints,
and plastics.
 Car batteries
What is a base?

 A base is a solution that

has an excess of OH-
ions.
 Another word for base
is alkali.
 Bases are
substances that can
accept hydrogen ions
Properties of a Base

 Feel Slippery
 Taste Bitter
 Corrosive
 Can conduct electricity.
(Think alkaline
batteries.)
 Do not react with metals.
 Turns red litmus paper
blue.
Uses of Bases
 Bases give soaps,
ammonia, and many
other cleaning products
some of their useful
properties.
 The OH- ions interact
strongly with certain
substances, such as dirt
and grease.
 Chalk and oven cleaner
are examples of familiar
products that contain
bases.
 Your blood is a basic
solution.
 pH Scale

 pH is a measure of how acidic or

basic a solution is.
• The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.
 Acidic solutions have pH values
below 7
 A solution with a pH of 0 is very
acidic.
 A solution with a pH of 7 is neutral.
• Pure water has a pH of 7.
• Basic solutions have pH values
above 7.
 pH Scale
• A change of 1 pH unit represents a tenfold
change in the acidity of the solution.
• For example, if one solution has a pH of 1 and
a second solution has a pH of 2, the first
solution is not twice as acidic as the second—
it is ten times more acidic.
 Acid – Base Reactions

 A reaction between an
acid and a base is
called neutralization.
An acid-base mixture
is not as acidic or
basic as the individual
starting solutions.
Acid – Base reactions

 Each salt listed in this

table can be formed by
the reaction between an
acid and a base.